What are the benefits of Virtual Surgical Planning?

Virtual surgical planning (VSP) has evolved into a useful tool for many surgeries. Some of the benefits of VSP are listed below-

For Orthodontists

Orthodontists no longer have to perform tedious pre-surgical procedures via traditional articulator method using expensive semi/fully adjustable articulators and face bow transfers, which has a high probability of errors.

They can now perform more accurate analysis of dentofacial deformity and pre-operative planning leading to safer surgeries.

Also, since all the records are digitally available - both 2D and 3D, they can plan the surgeries far quicker compared to traditional methods. 

With VSP, with just the DICOM files, OPG and lateral-cephalogram can be generated without the need of taking those separately.

VSP also allows the orthodontist to have accurate quantitative analysis of various deformities. Occlusion contact points can be visualized prior to the surgery making it easier for the Orthodontist to plan the braces treatment that is to be done post surgery.

Using VSP, the Orthodontist can now show the patient and the family what is the procedure that has to be performed, including how it changes the patient’s appearance. Hence, the post surgery profile outcome prediction significantly aids patient communication and education.

For Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons

For Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, VSP is the ground where they can perform multiple mock surgeries and finalize the best treatment plan.

Repetitive virtual surgery for the best possible results in problematic cases can minimize surgical errors and can allow the surgeon to accurately reproduce the surgical plan.

Virtual Surgical Planning also allows surgeons to anticipate potential intraoperative problems and reduce complications during actual surgery. It allows the surgeon to perform  minimally invasive surgeries as it follows the osteotomy line nearly the same as in a real intraoperative osteotomy.

As it enables three-dimensional imaging, the Surgeon can now establish necessary osteotomy planes preoperatively and assess different surgical scenarios.

They can carry out comprehensive evaluation of the anatomical structures of the surgical field.

In cases of asymmetric patients, VSP can be used to diagnose pre-surgical problems and can predict the post operative 3D position of osteotomized segments.

With VSP, it is possible to perform virtual segmentation of the maxilla or mandible and repositioning of the osteotomized segment. This enables precise mobilization of the horizontal, vertical, and transverse direction segments with six degrees of freedom according to the planned movements.

Lastly, the time taken to perform a surgery based on a virtual plan is significantly lesser than under a conventional plan with the aid of surgical splints and guides.

For Patients

VSP allows patients to view the post-surgical profile prediction superimposed on their face prior to the surgery, allowing them to decide whether to go ahead with the surgery, which was not possible earlier.

Further, VSP aids quicker surgeries, where patients spend less time in the operating theater, resulting in not only significant cost savings but they also end up spending lesser time under General Anesthesia leading to faster recovery.